Effects of PPAR-γ Agonist Treatment on LPS-Induced Mastitis in Rats

PPAR-γ, a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, plays an important role in lipid metabolism and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of synthetic PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mastitis in rats. The mouse model of mastitis was induced by the injection of LPS through the duct of the mammary gland. Rosiglitazone was injected 1 h before the induction of LPS intraperitoneally. The results showed that rosiglitazone attenuated the infiltration of inflammatory cells, the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, Western blotting showed that rosiglitazone inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65. These results indicated that rosiglitazone has a protective effect on mastitis, and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of rosiglitazone on LPS-induced mastitis in rats may be due to its ability to inhibit NF-κB signaling pathways. PPAR-γ may be a potential therapeutic target against mastitis.     

Determination of microcystins in water samples by deep eutectic solvent-based vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry

Rapid screening of two microcystins (i.e., microcystin-YR (MC-YR) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR)) in surface water samples was performed by a simple and eco-friendly procedure using deep eutectic solvent-based vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (DES-based VALLME) combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization (+)-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI(+)-qTOF-MS) detection. To obtain an efficient water-miscible DES, choline chloride and phenol at a molar ratio of 1 : 2 were used as an extractant for VALLME. To optimize factors of DES-based VALLME, response surface design alongside Box–Behnken design was used. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 0.5 ng mL⁻¹ and 0.4 ng mL⁻¹ for MC-YR and MC-LR, respectively, which is sensitive enough to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum guideline level for MC-LR in water of 1.0 ng mL⁻¹. Moreover, satisfactory precision with relative standard deviations (RSD) for both intra- and inter-day analysis lower than 11%, and trueness (also known as mean extraction recovery) ranged from 85.5 to 113% based on the ICH method validation guideline.

An eco-friendly and efficient DES-based VALLME coupled UHPLC-ESI(+)-qTOF-MS method was developed to determine MC-YR and MC-LR in surface water samples.     

New spirobisnaphthalenes from an endolichenic fungus strain CGMCC 3.15192 and their anticancer effects through the P53–P21 pathway

Natural products from fungi have remained a rich resource for drug discovery. Here we report the isolation of three new spirobisnaphthalenes, namely sacrosomycin A-C (1–3), and three known analogues (4–6), from the ethyl acetate extract of a nonsporulating endolichenic fungus derived from Peltigera elisabethae var. mauritzii. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by IR, UV, MS, and NMR. Biological functions of these compounds were evaluated using cultured human cancer cell lines. Short-term cell growth and long-term cell survival assays show that compound 5 demonstrated the strongest cancer cell growth inhibition effect. We reveal that compound 5 induced both cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and cell death. Using western blotting, luciferase reporter assay and quantitative PCR (qPCR), we show that compound 5 induced up-regulation of the P53–P21 pathway, supporting the cell cycle arrest and growth inhibition effect of this compound. In contrast, these compounds did not induce cell death in a normal cell line. These results demonstrate a potential anticancer effect of this rare family of spirobisnaphthalene compounds isolated from endolichenic fungi.

New spirobisnaphthalenes from an endolichenic fungus strain and their anticancer effects mediated by the P53–P21 pathway.     

Room-temperature phosphorescent polymers with excitation-wavelength and delay-time emission dependencies

Novel room-temperature phosphorescent materials based on commercialized poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) salt have been identified with aggregation-induced emission and room temperature phosphorescence emission characteristics. We systematically investigated their excitation-wavelength and delay-time dependencies to provide new insight into the potentiality of these materials for multiple industrial applications, such as optical storage and anti-counterfeit labelling.

Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) salt ionomer was found to have excitation wavelength and delay time tunable RTP emission characteristics.     

The relation of infant attachment to attachment and cognitive and behavioural outcomes in early childhood

Background

In China, research on the relation of mother–infant attachment to children's development is scarce.

Aims

This study sought to investigate the relation of mother–infant attachment to attachment, cognitive and behavioural development in young children.

Study design

This study used a longitudinal study design.

Subjects

The subjects included healthy infants (n = 160) aged 12 to 18 months.

Outcome measures

Ainsworth's “Strange Situation Procedure” was used to evaluate mother–infant attachment types. The attachment Q-set (AQS) was used to evaluate the attachment between young children and their mothers. The Bayley scale of infant development-second edition (BSID-II) was used to evaluate cognitive developmental level in early childhood. Achenbach's child behaviour checklist (CBCL) for 2- to 3-year-olds was used to investigate behavioural problems.

Results

In total, 118 young children (73.8%) completed the follow-up; 89.7% of infants with secure attachment and 85.0% of infants with insecure attachment still demonstrated this type of attachment in early childhood (κ = 0.738, p < 0.05). Infants with insecure attachment collectively exhibited a significantly lower mental development index (MDI) in early childhood than did infants with secure attachment, especially the resistant type. In addition, resistant infants were reported to have greater social withdrawal, sleep problems and aggressive behaviour in early childhood.

Conclusion

There is a high consistency in attachment development from infancy to early childhood. Secure mother–infant attachment predicts a better cognitive and behavioural outcome; whereas insecure attachment, especially the resistant attachment, may lead to a lower cognitive level and greater behavioural problems in early childhood.     

PICU重症坏死性筋膜炎诊治分析

目的分析重症坏死性筋膜炎（necrotizing fasciitis,NF）临床特点及诊断治疗要点。方法回顾性分析安徽省儿童医院PICU2007年1月至2013年9月14例NF患儿临床体征、辅助检查、治疗及预后。结果14例患儿中,男8例,女6例,年龄（15．86±10．48）个月,住院天数（29．07±16．30）d,热程（10．64±5．64）d,清创次数（3．07±1．33）次;均有脓毒性休克,5例有多脏器功能衰竭。发病部位：臀部5例,下肢4例,背部2例,会阴部2例,颈部1例;血培养：6例金黄色葡萄球菌（1例耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌）,4例铜绿假单胞菌,3例培养未见明显细菌生长,1例咽峡炎群链球菌。CT均见皮肤及皮下组织水肿,筋膜增厚,11例见软组织气体影。组织活检均确诊为NF;病初表现不典型以局部组织红肿为主,随病情进展患处皮肤苍白伴血疱,后颜色逐渐发紫发黑,部分患儿有皮下握雪感,切开后见筋膜大片苍白坏死;均行切开引流（5例行封闭负压引流持续吸引）、彻底清创、有效抗生素治疗、胶体支持治疗;1期愈合7例（50．00％,7／14）,2期植皮4例（28．57％,4／14）,死亡3例（21．43％,3／14）;随访2年,6例患儿有局部肢体活动受限。结论NF病情危重,常见于会阴部、腹部及四肢,易导致脓毒性休克,多脏器功能衰竭,革兰阴性杆菌感染临床症状极危重,病死率高。NF需尽早确诊,强有力抗生素使用,积极广泛、彻底地外科清创,充分引流,加强支持对症处理可降低病死率。     

变性高效液相色谱分析肺炎支原体基因类型研究

目的 运用变性高效液相色谱（denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography,DHPLC）技术检测肺炎支原体（mycoplasma pneumoniae,MP）基因型,了解儿童MP流行状况.方法 对我院300例患儿鼻咽吸出物进行表型确证试验,采用PCR对标准菌株和MP表型阳性的临床菌株进行PCR扩增,扩增产物经DHPLC分析,通过与标准菌株色谱峰比对进行临床菌株基因分型.结果 300例患儿咽拭子经过24h培养后呈阳性110例.用特异引物扩增MP-129、MP-FH标准株和标本,分别得到2 280 bp和2580bp基因片段.110株临床菌株经DHPLC分析检测出107株是P1-Ⅰ型,均是1b亚型,3株是P1-Ⅱ型,均是2a亚型.结论 运用DHPLC技术检测出本院儿童发生MP感染以P1-Ⅰ、1b亚型为主.     

Effects of PEMF exposure at different pulses on osteogenesis of MC3T3-E1 cells

Objective

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) were considered to be a factor which may affect osteogenesis of osteoblasts, but the effects were diverse with different PEMF parameters. The aim of the current study is to explore the effects of exposure to PEMFs at different pulse number on osteogenesis of osteoblasts.

Design

The mouse osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to 0, 400 or 2800 pulses 400 kV/m PEMF and the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of cells were observed after PEMF exposure by the methods of MTT, biochemical measurement, real-time PCR and Alizarin Red assay.

Results

Compared with 0 pulses groups, the growth curve, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mRNA level of osteocalcin (OCN) and mineralized nodule formation of MC3T3-E1 cells did not change after 400 pulses PEMF exposure, but decreased after 2800 pulses PEMF exposure. It suggested that under our experimental conditions, only 2800 pulses 400 kV/m PEMF exposure can suppress the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells, but 400 pulses 400 kV/m PEMF exposure cannot.

Conclusions

Pulse number is another involved parameter which may influence the effects of PEMF on osteogenesis of osteoblasts.